Browns notebook: Injuries lead to an in-flux offensive line

“You really have a hard time operating without a group that has been working together,” Head Coach Scott Linehan said.

Veteran Todd Steussie, productive in 16 starts last year, is on injured reserve with a broken foot. Left tackle Orlando Pace, a former No. 1 overall pick, suffered a season-ending injury in the second quarter of the first game.

Feisty guard Richie Incognito missed five games with a high ankle sprain. Center Brett Romberg tried to play through an ankle injury the last two games. He’ll sit today.

“We started the season with Alex Barron at right tackle,” Linehan said. “Now he’s at left. He hasn’t played there since college. I can go on and on.”

Doing so would only remind Browns fans how they had it for too many years.

Pittman’s pendulum

Former Akron Buchtel and Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman is getting his feet wet in St. Louis after a mind-blowing entry into the NFL.

In April, Pittman was drafted in a high Round 4 spot (No. 107 overall) where rookies hardly ever get cut, but the Saints let him go late in the preseason.

The Rams claimed him. His stats are nothing to get excited about (nine carries, 19 yards), but Linehan seems pleased.

“We really like Antonio,” Linehan said. “He’s really improved and had some nice carries for us last week. He’s right on schedule.”

The hot hand

The Browns are averaging 32 points in Derek Anderson’s five starts this year. They averaged 15.9 points in Charlie Frye’s 13 starts last year.

In fairness to Frye, the Browns averaged 10.3 points in Anderson’s three 2006 starts, when the offensive line landscape looked a lot different.

Wideout Braylon Edwards is averaging 100.6 yards during the last five games. Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. is averaging 84.3 yards through six games and has been below 83 yards only once.

What’s in a win streak?

The Browns are trying two win two straight games for the first time since 2003. From that point through the end of the 2006 season, the record was 12-30.

If the Browns win today and beat the Seahawks at home, it give the Browns their first three-game winning streak since 2001.

Want to dream big? Beating St. Louis, Seattle and Pittsburgh would give Cleveland its second four-game win streak in the last 20 years (1994).

Sixth-man award

Opposing quarterbacks Anderson and Marc Bulger entered the league as Round 6 picks.

“Stranger things have happened than sixth-round quarterbacks panning out,” Linehan said. “Marc was one, and there’s a pretty good one in New England (Tom Brady).”

The Rams got to Super Bowls in 1999 and 2001 with an undrafted QB in Kurt Warner.

“He had a lot of players in place and got them the ball,” Linehan said.

Extra points

- In 2006, then-rookie Lawrence Vickers was associated with doomed short-yardage plays sent in by coordinator Mo Carthon. “It was kind of a running joke,” said Phil Savage, who has a good feel for what fans are saying. In 2007, Vickers is 4-for-4 in converting third-and-1 carries into first downs.

- Thanks to return ace Joshua Cribbs, the Browns start on average at the 32.4-yard line after kickoffs. The only teams better are the Patriots (33.0), Redskins (32.7) and Jets (32.5). The Browns rank well ahead of AFC North rivals Pittsburgh (28.30, Baltimore (26.3) and Cincinnati (25.7).